What I Want to Remember (6 Months)

Holy cow, Tristan! You are 6 months old! Half a year old. I don't know how this is possible, but this is the reality I'm faced with. Fastest 6 months of my life. No joke.

You had your 6-month check-up and shots today. As you age, it gets harder and harder to watch you get shots. You just stared at me with your big blue eyes, wanting to be held, and after the first prick, you were just so upset. The second I picked you up, you calmed down, though. And, Sister was comforting you as well, telling you that the next time she gets a shot, she will be brave to show you how to not cry.

So, what have you been up to this month?

Well, you are talking. A lot. You screech so loud, all the time! You have an opinion about everything, and you especially love talking on your changing table. Oh, and after we feed you a bottle and burp you, you just lean on our shoulder and loudly tell us in our ear what's on your mind.

You are pretty good at sleeping. While teething (which you're going through right now), you are up three to four times a night. Nothing a binky can't fix, though. Typically, though, you wake up between 3:00 and 4:00 wanting a bottle. Then, you pretty easily go back to sleep. However, if you wake up around 5:00 for this feeding, it's tricky, because you are starting to wake up for the day, so getting you back to sleep takes more effort.

Then, like clock work, you take your morning nap exactly two hours after you wake up. On the dot. Your other naps throughout the day aren't as consistent. You get at least three naps in, and they vary in length and time. I'm just letting you tell me when you need to sleep. I can count on you to fall asleep in the car, though. Car rides are not nearly as painful as they once were.

You despise tummy time, which is likely why you are not rolling over very well yet. You've only managed to roll from your tummy to back a handful of times. The doctor wants to see you rolling over, though, since the back of your head is supposedly getting flat from laying on your back so much. I think you were born that way, but I'm not gonna argue because I do agree. You need to start rolling. Come on, baby boy!!!

Part of the reason why you're not too mobile yet is because you are quite the chunky monkey. You weigh 20 pounds, 14 ounces (75th to 90th percentile) and you are 28 inches long (90th percentile). You have Popeye arms and Arnold thighs. LOL! Daddy likes you call you a beast, and I think that suits you just fine. :)

You love your sister so much. You think she's the greatest thing in the world and everything she does is just so wonderful. You just watch her all the time. If she's in the room, your eyes are on her. And, more times than not, you have your silly little smile on your face. She makes you smile and laugh so much.

Daddy also makes you laugh so hard when he rubs his head on your tummy. Wow! Your laughter usually comes out in loud screeches. You also make funny coughing noises when you're excited. Those noises usually match the typical Tristan look that says, "I'm so happy!"

You love to bang toys now, and throw them! It seems like you may be left-handed like Daddy and Sister, because most toys end up on the left side of you. You throw with your left hand and bang with your left hand. I guess we'll have to wait and see!

Your hair is coming in thicker now, and it looks to be staying blondish. Sometimes it looks golden blonde, sometimes more brown. Either way, it's much lighter than my hair. And your eyes! Oh, your eyes! They are blue and they are going to stay that way. Deep, royal, sky blue. I could stare into your eyes all day long. (And just between you and me, I do spend a lot of my day doing just that! Shhh!). :)

It's been a wonderful six months, Tristan Nathaniel. You make me smile so much. You truly are a happy, vocal, caring baby. You love to cuddle, you love to touch our faces when we talk to you, you're patient when we don't quickly meet your needs, you give Sister confidence because you are always encouraging her with your stares and smiles, and you have just filled this family with so much joy.

I can't wait to see what the second half of your first year of life holds...

What I Want to Remember (3 to 5 Months)

Because I never got around to posting "What I Want to Remember (3 to 4 Months)," I'm just going to combine his fourth and fifth months of life into one monster post. :)

I'll start this out with your 4-month stats. My, you are a growing boy! You weighed 18 pounds, exactly, and your length was 25-3/4 inches. You are growing so fast. According to Baby Center, you are in the 50th to 75th percentile in length, and the 75th to 90th percentile in weight. I beg to differ, though, because I think your weight should be off the charts. You are a solid boy, but I guess your weight is "normal."

Ella was 3 pounds lighter and 2 inches longer at the same age, so you definitely have a stockier, huskier build that Big Sister. Ella does have a lengthy physique, though. She's not necessarily tall, but she has long, slender arms and legs and a long, slender stomach. You have Popeye arms. No joke. Your forearms are huge!

You have found your voice. Wait, let me rephrase that. You have found your SCREAM! You love to screech. You have such a happy screech.

You have also found your laugh. It is the cutest, happiest sound in the world.

I feel like you are happier than most babies. Of course, I realize I'm biased, but honestly...you are smiling and laughing ALL THE TIME. Ella was never like this. Ella was a much more serious baby. In fact, I went through videos of her during this age, and I only have two videos of her laughing and one of her coo-ing. You, on the other hand, too many to count.

You love to talk, especially when laying on your changing table.

You wake up every morning between 6:00 and 7:00, and you just carry a lengthy conversation with yourself about who knows what. I just lay in bed and listen to you on the monitor, smiling to myself, thanking God for such a happy boy.

You are now eating cereal three times a day. At first, you hated it, but now you eat like a champ. We have you on a pretty good schedule. I feed you at the table when Sister eats her breakfast, and then early afternoon after you wake up from your nap, and then we feed you around 7:00 at night. You drink formula between those meals. I don't know what's "normal" for a baby to be eating at your age, but I just listen to you, and I think you know when food is going to come, so you don't freak out when you're getting hungry because you understand your schedule and know to wait it out.

The only time you fuss/cry is when you're tired, and that's an easy fix. When home, I just lay you in bed, tuck some covers around the lower half of your body, give you the binky and leave. When you're tired enough, you are able to self sooth yourself to sleep. I hardly rock you anymore. I just lay you down when it's time to sleep and you fall asleep.

I think much of this is due to the fact that you are no longer binky-handicapped. It wasn't until you were maybe four months old that you finally began to understand the art of sucking the binky, and ever since, car rides have become much better. I only let you have it when we're driving or when it's time to sleep. When we're just hanging out at home, I don't let you have it. I'd prefer for you not to get too attached to it.

You have two bottom teeth that sprouted around the same time.

You love to gnaw on your thumbs, but you don't really suck.

You LOVE LOVE LOVE to jump in your jumper. That is definitely the best money we've spent on you thus far (other than the thousands of dollars to bring you life!). During the morning, you literally stay in there for an hour straight. You work yourself to exhaustion and then you let me know you're ready for a morning nap.

You typically take three naps a day. Morning, early afternoon and evening. You like to take little cat naps here and there, too.

You love to kick, and still aren't the biggest fan of tummy time. You rolled over from your tummy to your back one time, but that was a fluke deal because you haven't again since. You are just kinda a blob. You don't roll and you don't move from where we put you. But, oh, put you in the jumper, and you go to town! And, you only jump on your right leg. Silly boy! :)

You are just such a joy. You are everything I dreamed of, and more! You and your sister complete me in a way that I cannot describe. God created me to be your guys' mom, and God created you guys to be my children. We're a perfect match! A match made in Heaven. :)

20 Things A Mom Should Tell Her Son

1. You will set the tone for the sexual relationship, so don't take something away from her that you can't give back.

2. Play a sport. It will teach you how to win honorably, lose gracefully, respect authority, work with others, manage your time and stay out of trouble. And maybe even throw or catch.

3. Use careful aim when you pee. Somebody's got to clean that up, you know.

4. Save money when you're young because you're going to need it some day.

5. Allow me to introduce you to the dishwasher, oven, washing machine, iron, vacuum, mop and broom. Now please go use them.

6. Pray and be a spiritual leader.

7. Don't ever be a bully and don't ever start a fight, but if some idiot clocks you, please defend yourself.

8. Your knowledge and education is something that nobody can take away from you.

9. Treat women kindly. Forever is a long time to live alone and it's even longer to live with somebody who hates your guts.

10. Take pride in your appearance.

11. Be strong and tender at the same time.

12. A woman can do everything that you can do. This includes her having a successful career and you changing diapers at 3 A.M. Mutual respect is the key to a good relationship.

13. "Yes ma'am" and "yes sir" still go a long way.

14. The reason that they're called "private parts" is because they're "private". Please do not scratch them in public.

15. Peer pressure is a scary thing. Be a good leader and others will follow.

16. Bringing her flowers for no reason is always a good idea.

17. Be patriotic.

18. Potty humor isn't the only thing that's humorous.

19. Please choose your spouse wisely. My daughter-in-law will be the gatekeeper for me spending time with you and my grandchildren.

20. Remember to call your mother because I might be missing you.

(Courtesy of Werdyab).

I Miss Blogging

I miss my blog.

Period.

I miss my blogging buddies.

I miss the connection my blog gave me with so many people.

I need to re-prioritize my time to allow for some me time, and in that me time, I will blog.

I have so much to blog about, too.

But, that's all you're gonna get for now, because Tristan's waking up from his nap and we soon need to pick Ella up from kindergarten.

The end.

My Life through My iPhone

My life has been so busy lately, hence my absence. So, this will be a short update of my going-ons the past couple weeks through my iPhone pictures. As you can tell, my life revolves around these two! :)

What I Want to Remember (2 to 3 months)

My dear, sweet boy...you are growing up so fast. For your three-month birthday, Daddy and I bought you a jumper. You have always loved standing and bouncing around on our laps, so we knew this would be the perfect fit. Needless the say, the second I sat you in there, you were nothing but smiles. (Then again, you're usually nothing but smiles).

And, you gave me a very special gift yourself. You slept for eight hours straight last night! 8:30 to 4:15. Your sleeping habits fluctuate so much. Some nights you only wake up once, some nights three times. And, there's nothing we do differently beforehand. It's only the first waking that you're hungry. All subsequent wakings you just need help falling back asleep. I wait to see if you can fall back asleep on your own, but usually it turns into a cry.

Your eyes are still blue. Some moments they look bluer than blue that they are almost purple. Other moments they look slate gray with only a touch of blue. My fingers are still crossed that they stay blue because I would love to have a blue-eyed boy.

Aside from your eyes, you have been showing off a cute little dimple on your left cheek! Both cheeks have a kind of dimple look to them when you smile, but you have a sure "dot," if you will, on your left cheek. Your smile is the cutest on the block and makes me melt every time.

Your personality is really beginning to shine. You are forming opinions in things that you like, don't like, etc. You love to be held so you can look around. You cannot stand when we cradle you, unless we're standing and bouncing while doing so.

Your screams are LOUD!!! I always thought Ella was going to be the louder child, but wow, when you get in the mood for some screaming, you put Ella to shame. Most screams are just your way of letting us know you want to be held. STAT!

You are really getting into a routine. You have a clear time mid-morning where you want to nap and then you have a clear time during the evening (and when we're lucky, it's during our dinner time) that you want to nap. You're ready to sleep by 8:00 and, lately, you've been getting very, very grumpy at night. That could be why you're sleeping better...you get yourself so worked up right before you hit the hay.

You're pretty much a cat napper, though, and you cat nap throughout the day, other than a couple longer naps.

Overall, you are still a very mellow baby. Sometimes you just lay on the ground and kick forever, without a care in the world. You love to be held, but you don't mind who holds you or how. You let your big sister carry you around all the time (under close supervision) and basically treat you like her little doll, and you just stare back at her and smile.

You let out your first laugh a couple weeks ago, and to no surprise, it was at your big sister. She was making you punch her face and you got the biggest kick out of it.

I just love listening to you talk. You love to talk when you're tired. You're all swaddled up and you just stare up at my face and talk to me. What about? I don't know, but I listen for attentively and talk right back at you. And, when you're really playful, you love to talk to us while drinking from your bottle. You start smiling and then give us a conversation of cute little coos. All with the nipple in your mouth and formula dripping from the corners of your mouth. These are some of my favorite moments with you.

As for how big you are, I have no idea! But, you are comfortably wearing 3 to 6-month clothes, and even some 6 month outfits. You mainly wear 3-month clothes, though, but they are getting tighter by the day (literally). You're going to grow up and look just like your daddy. You pretty much already do!

I've had a wonderful three months with you, and I'm falling more and more in love with you each and everyday. You're my little miracle and you have blessed me more than I deserve. I love you so much.

The Kids' Dedication

Tristan and Ella were dedicated at church this past Sunday.

This is the slide that was displayed on the big screens during their dedication.

For those of you unfamiliar with what a dedication is, here is the pledge that Aaron and I commit ourselves to...

As your parent, Ella / Tristan, I make a pledge to you today that spiritual growth and development are the top priorities of my life. Nothing matters to me as much as seeing you grow up into a fully developed follower of Jesus Christ, loving and serving Him every day of your life.

I make a pledge to you today to walk with you on the Way that He has set before us until the day comes when you choose to walk that Way on your own, knowing that full devotion to Him is normal for believers.

I pledge to teach you what I know to be His truth and to share with you my own relationship with our Heavenly Father. My prayer and hope are that you might always sense His presence and know without a shadow of doubt that you are loved eternally and without measure by the Lord God Almighty.

I pledge to intercede before the Lord on your behalf frequently and with all my heart that you might come to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord and to know Him as your Friend forever.

You are my beloved child, Ella / Tristan, and my greatest desire is to live in Heaven with you and our Lord Jesus Christ for all eternity.

I'm so committed to raising my kids in a Christian home as I strive to be a reflection of God's love. I know I will fail time and time again. There is no such thing as a perfect parent, and even my love for Ella and Tristan is not perfect. But, I hope to instill in my little ones that the only perfect love is from their Heavenly Father, and my wish is that they will grow secure and confident in this love.

I'm Still Here (Update on Life)

You can't tell how much I love blogging by my lack of doing so as of late, but I swear...I do love blogging! A lot!

Believe it or not, but I think about blogging all the time. Whenever something happens or an idea pops in my mind, I get so excited to blog about it, but life has been so busy lately.

And time flies even faster when busy, which I hate because that means Tristan's growing up so fast.

We went to my parents' cabin a week ago, where Tristan got to experience snow for the first time. It was great spending time with my parents on this mini-getaway. I love watching them love on Ella and Tristan, as only proud grandparents can do.

A picture of God's masterpiece, where the air is fresh with a crisp bite, the sky is bluer than blue and a smile is permanently glued on your face.

Charles, the snowman Aaron built for Ella. Picturesque snowman, if you ask me!

Charles looks so real!

And, of course, Bob came along. I can't say he was a fan of the snow, but he semi-willingly followed us around in the snow, tiptoeing through the ice. Poor guy.

And, of course, you can't go to the snow without eating some!

The girls.

The boys.

Aaron running up the hill with Ella for some sledding. (I only took video of them coming down, otherwise I'd share pictures of their descent). :)

All three of my boys. Muah!

Tristan slept most of the time we took him outside. I think the snow was just too bright to look at, so he just closed his eyes and fell asleep, after much fussing.

Ella went through some new experiences for the first time, too.

She broke her ankle. Not a serious break, but rather a minor fracture of her growth plate. She had a fiber glass cast put on for a week, and it's off now, but her injury is not completely healed. The rest of the healing can be done without a cast, though.

As seen in the picture below, Ella wore my socks over her cast most of the time to keep her little toesies warm. And yes, this is how my little girl loves to dress. You can't get her to wear jeans and a normal shirt ever. It's all about color and tutus. In fact, whenever she wears jeans to school, she must wear a tutu over them. No joke.

Ella also lost her first tooth! I came home from work on Friday and she excitedly told me her tooth was loose. I cried, of course, because this milestone in her growing up simply came too fast. Two days later, after much convincing and bribery, I asked if I could try to pull it out, and sure enough, it came right out!

Ella's new smile! :)

Examining her tooth.

So, keeping up with the kids's new experiences and growing up has surely kept me busy, but on top of that, I've had the joy of watching them grow closer together.

While folding laundry, Ella curled up on the bed next to Tristan and just began cuddling with him. She carried a conversation with him, and he just smiled back and her, totally mesmerized by her every word.

Aaron and I are raising such cuddle bugs! :)

I'm sorry I've been away from my beloved blog for so long. I hope I still have people interested in my going-ons and thoughts! I will be sure to come back very soon. :)